Craftwork bench floor lock



Dec. 13, 1960 R. G. Mol-1R CRAFTWORK BENCH FLOOR LOCK Filed Jan. 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 7 u FM j J0 mmm i 0 j j :2 1 el l'Z I mi Y --u r #1::- I

| w "u l' Dec. 13, 1960 R. G. MOHR 2,964,327

CRAFTWORK BENCH FLOOR 'LOCK United States Patent O 2,964,321 cRAFrWoRK BENCH FLOOR LocKL Robert G. Mohr, Muskegon, Mich., assignor to Brunswick Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 16, 1958, Ser. No. 709,335

Claims. (Cl. 280-43.24)

' This invention relates to a oor lock for a work bench on casters, or'the like, for locking the bench to the oor against movement on the casters.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a new and improved door lock of the type described.

Another object is to provide a new and improved oor lock of the type described which forms an integral part of the benchstructure or the like on which it is mounted. A further object is to provide a new and improved work bench or the like on casters, having a oor lock forming an integral part of the bench structure.

, A more specific object is to provide a new and improved oor lock including a lock' frame, a locking foot on the frame depressible to a oor engaging position, an actuating lever on the frame for depressing the lock foot, and locking means on the frame for retaining the foot in locking position, releasable to permit spring return of the foot to a retracted position.

Other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a craftwork bench embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the lower left hand corner of the bench illustrated in Fig. 1, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a left end elevational view of the oor lock illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially at the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shownv in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, and it should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as lan exemplitcation of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention tothe embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

VReferring now to the drawings for a more detailed description, as illustrated, the invention is embodied in a craftwork benchV generally designated intended principally for use in schools though its utility is not limited to such places. The bench illustrated includes a top panel 11 which provides a substantially at table'- like work surface, horizontallyk disposed table top support'- ing beams such as that shown at 12, one positioned as illustrated and another along the opposite side of the bench, end panels 13V and 14 which function as' columns to support the beams 12 and the top panel V11', a bottom shelf panel 15 which functions as a beam supporting the end panels 13 and 14, and swivel casters 16 or the like supporting the bottom shelf to permit movement of the bench on lthe floor. Normally, the bench illustrated willinclude a-rear panel (not visible) and front sliding doors 17 and 18 so as to provide a substantially closed 2,964,327 Patented Dec. 13, 1960 ICC cabinet likeA structure beneath the top panel which may include shelves, drawers, or the like disposed above the bottom shelf 15 for the storage of tools and materials. The bench may be provided with a wood vise 20 and a metal vise 21, and a tool board 22 may be provided adjacent' and parallel to the end panel 13 if desired.

In order to retain the benchv against movement on the casters during use, it includes a plurality of lloor locks 25 preferably four in number positioned lrespectively adjacent the four bottom corners of the bench. The locks are all identical in construction except for their disposition on the bench, and only one will bev described in detail.

As illustrated, each lock includes a rigid lock frame comprised of spaced parallel side walls 27 and spaced parallel top and bottom walls 28 and 29 which form a hollow box like configuration. As illustrated, the side walls ,27 and the bottom wall 29 are comprised of a single vpiece of metal bent into a U-shaped bracket, and the top wall comprises a separate piece of metal welded or otherwise suitablyv secured to the side walls 27 adjacent their top edges.

The lock frame includes means for attaching the frame to the panel 10 including an upstanding cylindricalimetal post 31 on the top wall 28 and an upwardly directed metal flange 32 extending from one end of the top wall 28. In attaching the frame to the panel, the post 31 isV receivable in a cylindrical recess 33 in the bottom Shelf 15 and the ange 32 extends upwardly alongside the end panel 13. For the purpose of attaching the oor lock to the bench and for securing the end panel 13 to the bottom shelf 15, the post 31 is formed with a threaded crossabore 35 and the ange 32 is formed with an aligned beveled hole 36. The frame is attached to the ,panel by means including a dowel pin 37 which is driven through the bore 35 in the post 31 into a recess 38 in the bottom shelf 15. A metal screw 39 is passed through a countersunk washer 40, an opening in the tool board 22, a washer 41, the hole 36 in the ange 32, and a bore 42 in the end panel, into the bottom shelf 15 and is threaded into the bore 35 in the post 31. On tightening the screw 39 the end panel 13 is securely fastened to the bottom shelf 15 and the lock frame is rigidly attached to the bench structure.

The locking mechanism includes a movable locking foot in the form of a rod 44 vertically slidable through the top and bottom walls 28 and 29 of the lock frame and having a locking. shoe 45 of Va suitable frictional material suchV as rubber secured to the lower endv ofthe rod as bya screw 46 and a washer y47. The rod and the shoe are biased upwardly to a retracted position by means of a coiled compression spring 48 encircling the lower portion of the rod and bearing against the -bottom wall 2'9 and against a washer I49 which abuts an actuating lever 50 pinned to the rod 44 for depressingthe rod and the locking shoe. When the rod is depressed and the shoe engages the floor the washer 47, abutting the 4lower end of the rod, receivesthe force by the rod and distributes the load uniformly over the shoe 45, which otherwise would go directly. to the floor through the head of the screw 46 by reason of the flexibility of the shoe.

The actuating Ilever 50 comprises a channel shaped member having a central web portion 51 and depending side anges 52. At one end, the lever isV pivoted on the lock frame by means including a depending yoke-like flange 53 extending from an end of the top wall 28 and having Ia centrally disposed, downwardly opening rectanguiar recess 54 bounded on the sides by legs 55 depend-v ing from flange 53. The recess 54 `receives end portion 50a of the -lever 50 with the legs 55 straddling the lever so that the central web 51 bearsragainst the bot-torn edge of ange 53 to pivot thereabout. A loose lit of the lever in the recess 54 permits longitudinal movement of the lever end relative to lthe flange on pivoting. The central portion of the web 51 is provided with an opening S7 through which the rod 44 projects, and the depending side flanges 52 on the lever are pivot-ally connected-to the rod 44 as by a pin 59 to depress the rod and the locking' shoe on pivotal movement of the lever. Aligned openings 60 in lthe sidewalls 27 permit insertion of the pivot pin 59 during `assembly of the apparatus. The opposite end portion of the actuating lever extends outwardly from the locking frame so as to be accessible for depression by human foot to depress the locking shoe to a oor engaging position.

The rod `44 and the Ilocking shoe are locked in depressed positions by means of a locking lever having a substantially flat end portion 62 and a hooked end portion 63 embracing a pivot pin 64 supported at opposite ends in the side walls 27. The lever end 62 is biased upwardly by a locking spring having a U-shaped midportion 66 disposed beneath the locking lever, and leg portions each wound once around the pivot pin 64 as at 67 and bear-ing at the ends against the under surface of the top wall 28 as at 69, so that the locking lever is constantly urged upwardly. The locking lever is formed with an opening 70 through which the rod 44 passes to permit pivotal movement of the lever downwardly from the positionillustrated in the drawings. The locking spring normally biases the Ilocking lever upwardly to the position illustrated wherein an edge around the opening 70 engages the rod 44 as at 71 and 71a and bites into the rod to retain the rod and the locking shoe in the positions to which they are moved. The locking lever, by yielding downwardly, will permit movement of the rod 44 and the locking shoe to a depressed door engaging position by means of the `actuating lever 50. To release the rod 44 for return to the retracted position by means of spring 48, the locking lever is depressed from the position illustrated to relieve the locking engagement at 71 and 71a.

In operation, the work bench may be moved about on the casters 16 as desired. When the bench is to be used, it normally is desirable to utilize the floor locks 25 for retaining the bench against movement on the casters while working. One or more of the bench locks may be utilized to hold the bench by depressing the appropriate actuating levers 50. Each actuating lever may be depressed by foot to force the locking shoe 45 downwardly into engagement with the oor, and after the shoe engages the door, further depression of the lever 51 will act -to compress the yieldable material of the locking shoe. 'I'he pivoted :actuating lever, acting against the flange 53, provides a mechanical advantage enabling depression of the locking shoe rmily against the tloor to positively lock the bench against accidental movement while working. The locking lever acts automatically to retain the rod 44 in the depressed position until such time as the accessible end portion 62 may be depressed by foot, permitting spring Ireturn of the rod.

While the bench 10 has been described as a craftwork bench, and the floor locks have been described in connection with such a bench, it will be understood that the floor locks will have utility in other benches and in constructions other than benches, such -as table, industrial trucks, carriers and the like, and the references herein to a work bench are not intended as a limitation.

I claim:

l. A floor lock for a bench on casters or the like, comprising, a rigid boxlike frame having spaced top and bottom walls, means on the frame for attaching the frame to a lower portion of a bench, a rod slidable in the top and bottom walls having a floor engaging locking shoe thereon, a spring urging the rod upwardly, means limiting upward movement of the rod in a retracted position. a flange depending from the top wall, a downwardly opening recess in the ange, an actuating lever having one end loosely positioned in said recess and bearing against the underside of said flange in the recess to pivot thereabout while permitting longitudinal movement of the lever on pivoting, a pin pivotally connecting an intermediate portion of said lever to said rod to depress the rod, said lever having an opposite end portion accessible for depression by human foot, and means movably mounted on the frame for locking the rod in a depressed positionJ releasable to permit spring return of the rod.

2. In a work bench or the like having upstanding supporting columns, a horizontally disposed supporting beam extending between and abutting the columns to support the latter, and casters supporting the beam to permit movement of the bench on a floor, a floor lock, comprising, a rigid lock frame, an upstanding post on the frame receivable in a recess in said beam, a ange on the frame extending upwardly alongside a column, a screw passing through the flange and the column and into the beam and the post for securing the column to the beam and for securing the frame to the bench, a locking foot on the frame depressible to a floor engaging position, a spring urging the foot upwardly, and means on the frame for depressing the foot.

3. In a work bench or the like having upright end panels, a bottom shelf having opposite ends abutting the end panels to support the latter, and casters supporting the bottom shelf to permit movement of the bench on a iloor, a oor lock, comprising, a rigid boxlike lock frame having top and bottom walls, an upstanding post on the top wall receivable in a recess in said bottom shelf, a flange extending upwardly from one end of the top wall alongside an end panel, a screw passing through the ange and the end panel, into the bottom shelf and threaded in the post for securing the end panel to the bottom shelf and for securing the lock frame to the bench, a rod slidable in the top and bottom walls having a floor engaging shoe thereon, a spring urging the rod and shoe upwardly, an actuating lever having one end loosely pivoted on the frame to permit longitudinal movement of the lever on pivoting, a midportion pivotally connected to the rod to depress the rod and shoe, and an opposite end portion accessible for depression by human foot, and means on the frame for locking the rod and shoe in a depressed position, releasable to permit spring return of the rod and shoe.

4. A floor lock for a bench or the like, comprising, a lock frame attachable to a lower portion of a bench, a rod slidable upwardly and downwardly on the frame and having a floor engaging locking shoe thereon, a spring urging the rod and shoe upwardly, an actuating lever having one end pivotable and slidable on the frame to permit longitudinal movement of the lever on pivoting, an intermediate portion pivotally connected to the rod to depress the rod and shoe, and an opposite end portion accessible for depression by human foot, a locking lever having one end pivoted on the frame at one side of the rod and the opposite end overlying the actuating lever at the opposite side of the rod, terminating short of the accessible end of the actuating lever and also being accessible for depression by human foot, spring means urging the locking lever upwardly, and said locking lever having a recess therein through which said rod passes and an edge immediately adjacent the rod and engageable therewith when the rod is depressed and released to thereby bind and lock the rod in depressed position, the locking lever being depressible to release the rod for spring return.

5. A oor lock for a bench or the like, comprising, a lock frame attachable to a lower portion of a bench, a rod slidable upwardly and downwardly on the frame and having a floor engaging locking shoe thereon, a spring urging the rod and shoe upwardly, means limiting upward movement of the foot in a retracted position, a downwardly extending flange on the frame, an actuating lever having an intermediate portion pivotally connected 5 to the rod to depress the rod and shoe, one end loosely pivotally and slidably engaging the underside of said flange to react thereagainst and permit longitudinal movement of the lever on pivoting, and an opposite end portion accessible for depression by human foot, and means on the frame separate from the actuating lever for locking the rod in a depressed position, releasable to permit spring return of the rod and shoe to a retracted position.

991,241 Rae May 2, 1911 epee-32"? 6 Dietz a-.2.2-6- Oct. 16, 1923 Herold y Oct. 24, 1944 Herold Oct. 24, 1944 Sitton Aug. 26, 1947 Ferris Jan. 4, 1949 Skupas July 5, 1955l Gambardella June 18, 1957l Noyes Apr. 29, 1958- Noyes Aug. 12, 1958- FOREIGN PATENTS France Feb. 14, 1949 

